Matthew Dean, Jon Sweigart and Chad Cooper build plastic grocery bag recycling bins as part of the Hartwood Presbyterian Church's 'Rainforest Adventures.' ROBERT A. MARTIN/THE FREE LANCE-STAR

Kristen Godsey (left), 11, and Kristina Atwood, 11, sing during music time at Fredericksburg Baptist Church. ROBERT A. MARTIN/THE FREE LANCE-STAR

Twin sisters Elizabeth, left, and Isabella McGlone, 4, sign "Amazing Grace" at Fredericksburg Baptist Church. ROBERT A. MARTIN/THE FREE LANCE-STAR

Patrick Dean prays before an evening snack at Hartwood Presbyterian. The Stafford Church used a popular theme for its vacation Bible school. ROBERT A. MARTIN/THE FREE LANCE-STAR

Jennifer Horner waters a plant she potted during vacation Bible school at Hartwood Presbyterian Church in Stafford County. ROBERT A. MARTIN/THE FREE LANCE-STAR

Matthew Sullivan, 9, plays with a craft at Fredericksburg Baptist Church's vacation Bible school. ROBERT A. MARTIN/THE FREE LANCE-STAR

Churches use popular themes to teach kids about religion during Vacation Bible School

Date published: 7/26/2008

Colorful decorations, prizes, games and a fun theme make learning Bible stories more interesting.

Youth leaders at local churches know this. That's why they use themes such as "Dino Detectives," "Rainforest Adventures" and "Surf's Up" to boost enthusiasm for vacation Bible schools.

Packets with lesson plans, craft ideas, logos and banners can be purchased from Christian stores and online, which is where many churches get their ideas.

The idea is to attract children who aren't church members in hopes of bringing them and their families into the congregation.

"We've had kids come to Ferry Farm for vacation Bible school and have stayed after it was over," said Candace McDaniel, vacation Bible school co-director at Ferry Farm Baptist.

An informal survey of vacation Bible school themes in the area showed the following to be the most popular this summer:

--Megan Williams

Science and religion have a history of not mixing well, but Power Lab uses science and experiments to teach kids about God. Dry-ice demonstrations, light shows and other experiments are related to a Bible lesson each day. Crafts, snacks and games are also part of the experience. "This theme teaches the kids how God's power allows us to be thankful, to help others, be brave and tell others about God," said the Rev. Richard Carbaugh, the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg. Flamingos, boogie boards, hula skirts, lawn chairs and plastic tubes made up the setting for the Presbyterian Church in Fredericksburg's Beach Party vacation Bible school. The message behind the surfboards and beach balls was to have a "Be-Attitude." Each day focused on a different part of Jesus' message, such as being kind and being obedient. A similar theme, "Surfin' Through the Scriptures," was used by other area churches for their vacation Bible schools. Kids searched for dinosaur bones and God's word in big tubs of sand at Faith Baptist Church in Spotsylvania. They may not literally have found either, but the message "digging for the truth" was unearthed. Children pre-kindergarten through sixth grade learned Bible stories and lessons through activities with a prehistoric twist. Classrooms were decorated with dinosaur bones and eggs, children earned dino bucks to shop at the dino store and teachers were dressed up in their "dino digs." "It's a lot of fun," said rising sixth-grader Zachary Whiting. "I get to meet different kids from different schools. And I like the crafts." With global warming, recycling and protecting the environment being hot-button issues, Hartwood Presbyterian chose an ecological theme. A trainer brought small animals. Children looked at pictures of oil spills, made crafts out of recycled materials and learned Bible stories related to nature, such as the mustard-seed parable. "At the end of the week it comes together to show that everything they do adds up, and shows them what their role is in the bigger picture," said Melissa McDoniel, the church's vacation Bible school director. The most popular theme for area vacation Bible schools is "Outrigger Island." It is broad enough to allow a church to add its own twist. Ferry Farm Baptist Church in Stafford County created its own motto to go with the popular theme: "Speak the truth, know the truth." Music, recreation, crafts, snacks and games all had an island twist and were designed to reveal biblical truths, said Candace McDaniel, the church's vacation Bible school co-director. "Outrigger Island is just a fun way to get kids excited about the Bible stories. It's all a way to get kids engaged," McDaniel said. Power lab beach party rainforest adventures Dino Detectives outrigger island

Date published: 7/26/2008